Gendered socioeconomic impacts of emerging infectious diseases: Insights from a mixed-methods study in Guinea.
Infectious disease outbreaks exacerbate gendered socioeconomic disparities, with women in Guinea facing greater caregiving burdens and income loss. Tailored interventions are needed to address these intersectional vulnerabilities.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the ara 290 corpusSummary and findings
This study investigated the gendered socioeconomic impacts of infectious disease outbreaks in Guinea, using a mixed-methods approach with 906 survey participants and 508 qualitative respondents. Women experienced greater caregiving burdens and income loss, while men faced disruptions in traditional roles. The study highlights the intersectional nature of vulnerability during outbreaks.
Abstract
This study examines the gendered socioeconomic impacts of infectious disease outbreaks, including both epidemics (e.g., yellow fever, Ebola, Marburg and Mpox) and pandemics (e.g., COVID-19), on populations in Guinea, using data from the <i>Decentralize and Operationalize One Health Platforms</i> (DOPERAUS) project. A mixed-methods approach combined quantitative survey data (<i>N</i> = 906) from participants aged 18 and over and qualitative data from an open-ended questionnaire answered by 508 respondents to capture both measurable outcomes and nuanced experiences. Sampling accounted for gender, age, and vulnerable populations. Analyses incorporated descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests, and thematic coding of qualitative data. Findings reveal gendered disparities in how socioeconomic impacts are experienced during infectious disease outbreaks. Women disproportionately bore caregiving and household management responsibilities and were more affected by income loss and reduced market access, as many reported being unable to sell their goods in the qualitative data. Men were more affected by income loss and disruptions to traditional gender roles based on the quantitative data. Vulnerability was also shaped by age and occupational status, with adults aged 30-49 and those in informal or precarious employment experiencing heightened economic and social stress. Women frequently relied on informal borrowing and community support to cope with financial strain, highlighting structural gaps in social protection systems. These results underscore the intersectional nature of infectious disease outbreaks impacts, showing that gender alone does not fully explain vulnerability. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating social science perspectives into the One Health approach. Understanding household dynamics, community roles, and economic inequalities is essential for designing effective and equitable outbreak preparedness and response strategies.
Background
The study addresses the gendered socioeconomic impacts of infectious disease outbreaks, a topic of increasing relevance given recent global health crises. Previous research has indicated that pandemics and epidemics can exacerbate existing social inequalities, but detailed insights into gender-specific effects are limited. This study aims to fill that gap by exploring how these impacts manifest in Guinea, a region frequently affected by such outbreaks.
Methods
A mixed-methods study design was employed, combining quantitative survey data from 906 participants aged 18 and over with qualitative data from 508 respondents. The study utilized descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests, and thematic coding to analyze the data. The sampling strategy considered gender, age, and vulnerable populations to capture a comprehensive view of the impacts.
Results
The study found significant gendered disparities in the socioeconomic impacts of infectious disease outbreaks. Women were more affected by caregiving responsibilities and income loss, as well as reduced market access. Men experienced disruptions to traditional gender roles. Age and occupational status further influenced vulnerability, with adults aged 30-49 and those in informal employment facing increased economic and social stress.
Interpretation
These findings align with existing literature on the intersectional nature of vulnerability during health crises, emphasizing that gender alone does not fully account for disparities. The study's insights into the specific challenges faced by different demographic groups in Guinea highlight the need for tailored public health interventions. However, the context-specific nature of the study and potential biases in qualitative data interpretation limit the generalizability of the results.
Key findings
- N=906 survey participants aged 18 and over.
- 508 respondents provided qualitative data.
- Women disproportionately affected by caregiving and income loss.
- Men experienced disruptions to traditional gender roles.
- Adults aged 30-49 in informal employment faced heightened stress.
Limitations
- Context-specific to Guinea, limiting generalizability.
- Potential subjective interpretation in qualitative analysis.
- Mixed-methods approach may introduce complexity in data integration.